The Bookshop

Name: The Bookshop
Genre: Drama
Released: August 24, 2018
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 62
Cast: Bill Nighy, Emily Mortimer, Frances Barber, Honor Kneafsey, Hunter Tremayne

2018

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Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Ratings

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6.5

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6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Ratings

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The Bookshop (US Trailer)

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Movie Details & Credits

CDI Films | Release Date: August 24, 2018 | PG

Starring: Bill Nighy, Emily Mortimer, Frances Barber, Honor Kneafsey, Hunter Tremayne, James Lance, Lucy Beckwith, Michael Fitzgerald, Patricia Clarkson, Reg Wilson

Summary: England, 1959. Free-spirited widow Florence Green (Emily Mortimer) risks everything to open a bookshop in a conservative East Anglian coastal town. While bringing about a surprising cultural awakening through works by Ray Bradbury and Vladimir Nabokov, she earns the polite but ruthless opposition of a local grand dame (Patricia Clarkson)England, 1959. Free-spirited widow Florence Green (Emily Mortimer) risks everything to open a bookshop in a conservative East Anglian coastal town. While bringing about a surprising cultural awakening through works by Ray Bradbury and Vladimir Nabokov, she earns the polite but ruthless opposition of a local grand dame (Patricia Clarkson) and the support and affection of a reclusive book loving widower (Bill Nighy). As Florence’s obstacles amass and bear suspicious signs of a local power struggle, she is forced to ask: is there a place for a bookshop in a town that may not want one?… Expand

Director: Isabel Coixet

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 113 min

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Critic Reviews

Kate Taylor

Aug 22, 2018

Coixet occasionally overplays her hand – a dropped headscarf, a sudden death – as does a constipated Bill Nighy in the role of the reclusive widower who is Florence’s one ally, but overall, the film is stealthily impressive. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Aug 31, 2018

For a movie that is about a collection of oddballs, it can sometimes feel rather generic. But at its core, the film is not a comedy at all. The eccentricities issue from real adversity. Read full review

Jonathan Holland

Aug 21, 2018

Its subversive undercurrent, embodied in fine performances by Emily Mortimer and Bill Nighy, is what makes it really interesting. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Aug 21, 2018

It is a strange, subdued, rather miserable film, interestingly perceptive on conformism and philistinism as a way of life, and on the disconcerting wiles the inhabitants use in order to thwart Florence’s entirely reasonable plans. Read full review

Gary Goldstein

Aug 23, 2018

Although it’s anchored by a deeply felt performance by the wonderful Emily Mortimer, with a marvelous supporting turn by the always-welcome Bill Nighy, the film, scripted and directed by Spanish filmmaker Isabel Coixet (“Elegy,” “Learning to Drive”), is at times a bit too mustily mounted and told to keep us as fully immersed as we might like. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Nell Minow

Aug 24, 2018

We come to it with high expectations and it is especially disappointing that this movie never comes together. Read full review

Derek Smith

Aug 21, 2018

The Bookshop is steadfast in avoiding drama at all costs. Read full review

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User Reviews

GinaK

Sep 10, 2018

This is a film about people who love and appreciate books and also about small business owners who are persecuted by wealthy (and therefore powerful) people who force their will on others just because they can. The Bookshop is a quiet and very enjoyable experience with wonderful acting byThis is a film about people who love and appreciate books and also about small business owners who are persecuted by wealthy (and therefore powerful) people who force their will on others just because they can. The Bookshop is a quiet and very enjoyable experience with wonderful acting by British actors like Emily Mortimer and Bill Nighy who don’t put a foot wrong, joined by the wonderful American actress Patricia Clarkson who manages to play the villainess without going over the top, which is a neat trick in a movie like this. If you are “a reader” like me, you will love this movie.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

FreddoFazbeardo

Apr 14, 2020

1)I do not know why people don't like this movie, in rotten tomatoes it's horrible, in my opinion I liked it, but to help I give it a 10 so that it also raises my score on the score of other movies

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

KenR

Feb 29, 2020

Penelope Fitzgerald’s novel gets a warm lyrical transfer to the screen in Isabel Coixet’s movie treatment. This somewhat gentle story of a widow (thoughtful performance from Emily Mortimer) moving to an English coastal town in the late 50 s - intent on opening a bookstore while facing heavyPenelope Fitzgerald’s novel gets a warm lyrical transfer to the screen in Isabel Coixet’s movie treatment. This somewhat gentle story of a widow (thoughtful performance from Emily Mortimer) moving to an English coastal town in the late 50 s - intent on opening a bookstore while facing heavy resistance from certain locals. It’s always beautiful to look at, with many poetic landscape shots linking the flow of sequences, and an interesting music score adding atmosphere.

Slight but marvellous performances from Bill Nighy as a somewhat mysterious book reading recluse and young Honor Kheafsey as her after-school assistant make this fine viewing for discerning viewers. At times it may have felt as if something was missing, that it might have resembled a TV episode but it’s better than that. It’s something to do with the nature of the story, and the people who make up its subject. While it won’t please everyone (what does?) it manages to leave some warm feelings in a cold sort of way, and even that is different!

It’s always surprising (and pleasing) to find movies of this genre trickling through all the hyper CG action blockbusters and seedy youth fodder & actually managing to make a profit. People still want mind-engagement with soul in their entertainment. And yes, that is Julie Christie narrating the story - drawing the viewer into each situation. Recommended for an easy thoughtful watch. Great use of Ray Bradbury stories/books to mark the time and Lolita featured prominently to announce the coming of the ‘controversial’ era, for better or worse, depending on your bent.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

iCampoRamil

Nov 16, 2021

Una dirección magistral, súper bonita de ver, y Mortimer mola bastante, guay.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Acacia

Nov 20, 2018

This is one of those quiet little movies that don’t get a whole lot of buzz. But, it is charming and a lovely story. Emily Mortimer plays a young woan who has been left a widow. She returns to the place she grew up to open a bookshop. She faces steep opposition from one of the vilage’sThis is one of those quiet little movies that don’t get a whole lot of buzz. But, it is charming and a lovely story. Emily Mortimer plays a young woan who has been left a widow. She returns to the place she grew up to open a bookshop. She faces steep opposition from one of the vilage’s most influential (wealthy) women, played by Patricia Clarkson. But, she finds a champion in a wealthy recluse, a wonderful turn by Bill Nighy. After her shop is set up and running, she hires a young local girl to help out. Mortimer and this girl form a sweet bond. With all the opposition to her shop, Mortimer must try to carry on. The story is about her tenacity and the bonds she forges with some of the people sne meets along the way.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Slovenly_Muse

Sep 30, 2018

The cinematic equivalent of spending a long afternoon in a historic old bookshop. Perfect for those who'd consider that a dream day, but for moviegoers who'd like a story wider in scope, the film leaves a lot of story elements unexplored.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

newenglander

Aug 26, 2019

I watched this movie with four other women of various ages. We all thought it was terrible! I believe it was miscast...the bookshop owner should have been older if we wanted any belief and/or investment in her love story. The story overall is just plain boring (and I have a high toleranceI watched this movie with four other women of various ages. We all thought it was terrible! I believe it was miscast...the bookshop owner should have been older if we wanted any belief and/or investment in her love story. The story overall is just plain boring (and I have a high tolerance for slow moving films) and nothing really happens. Do people really like this? So confused.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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